Navy Rating · Support

171X Foreign Area Officer

Overview

Foreign Area Officers advise and assist in planning and implementing policy concerning the politico-military aspects of international affairs. They provide and evaluate information on international developments, support the development of plans and policies, represent Navy interests in international matters, and maintain liaison with relevant government agencies.

Core Skills

  • politico-military analysis
  • regional and cultural expertise
  • policy development and implementation support
  • strategic planning and assessment
  • interagency coordination and liaison
  • diplomatic communication and negotiation
  • intelligence and open-source research
  • report and white paper writing
  • briefing senior leaders and stakeholders
  • language and cross-cultural communication

Civilian Software & Tools

  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Microsoft Access
  • Productivity software

Civilian Career Paths

  • Intelligence Analysis
  • Open Source Intelligence
  • Project Management
  • Administration

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
  • CompTIA Data+
  • Antiterrorism Credential (ATC)

Career Growth

  • GIAC Strategic OSINT Analyst (GSOA)
  • Certified in Open Source Intelligence (C/OSINT)
  • Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)

What the Work Involves

  • Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
  • Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
  • Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
  • Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
  • Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.

Related Occupations

  • Advertising and Promotions Managers
  • Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
  • Rehabilitation Counselors
  • Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a four-year degree or equivalent experience.

Defense contractor jobs for 171X

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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